Highlights of Argentina

Breadcrumb

9 Days FROM USD 1,810

Overview

This is the perfect trip for those wanting a taste of Argentina on a short schedule. Explore the vibrant and historic city of Buenos Aires, Salta and then see the immense and starkly beautiful Great Salt Flat. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn to Humahuaca before heading to the mighty and spectacular Iguazu Falls. The Land of the Tango awaits!

Trip Code: ARTSHOA

Location: Argentina: Buenos Aires, Salta, Iguazu

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

On arrival, please make your way through to the Arrivals Hall where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it. Should you not be able to locate them, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details of our representative office. Please note this service is with a driver only.

Buenos Aires, Argentina’s elegant, historic and cosmopolitan capital, is known as the “Paris of the South” due to its European atmosphere with glamorous avenues lined with fashionable shops and Parisian-style restaurants and cafes. Located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires has many fascinating neighbourhoods to explore including the colourful and lively La Boca, home to art galleries and tango shows; San Telmo with its restored mansions and antique stores and Recoleta, the city’s most exclusive area.

You will be collected from your hotel for your three-hour tour visiting the most important highlights of the city of Buenos Aires. Discover the history of the Plaza de Mayo Square, the site of Argentina’s most important historical events - see its surroundings and the most emblematic buildings and learn all about them. Then enjoy Mayo Avenue and wonder in awe at the oldest residential neighbourhood in Buenos Aires: San Telmo. Live and feel the original Tango in the neighbourhood of La Boca: walk along Caminito Street and enjoy the Dancers and souvenir shops. See the mythical Boca Juniors soccer stadium. Contemplate the modernization of the city whilst traveling along Puerto Madero and its exclusive docks, full of excellent restaurants and large offices. Pass through the Retiro neighbourhood and move on to see Palermo and its most exclusive residential area before finally arriving at Recoleta. Here, discover the final resting place of Eva Peron, “Evita” and wander through Recoleta Cemetery where she is to be found. On completion of your tour, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is a small group tour.

Today is free to enjoy the sights and sounds of this world famous city. Why not enjoy a day trip over the River Plate to the beautiful city of Colonia with its UNESCO World Heritage Listed historic centre, perhaps wander the streets of San Telmo antiques district (home to the famous Sunday markets), enjoy some of the world class shopping or soak up some of Buenos Aires’ Parisian atmosphere.

This evening you will be collected from your hotel to experience a Tango Show with dinner. This is an intimate & passionate tango show, housed in a cozy wood-panelled 19th century building with a colourful history as a meeting point for poets and students in the heart of Buenos Aires's historic centre. After being abandoned in the late 1970s, the bar was restored and reopened in 1992 as El Querandí Tango Hall. The show is directed by Claudio Campos, with musical arrangements by Ado Falasca, and it smoothly charts the history of Argentina's most authentic artistic expression from its origins to the modern day. The dinner is better than many, and at just over an hour long, the show is the perfect length. The three house singers, six dancers and four musicians put on a great show. Dinner will be served from 8.30pm followed by the show commencing at 10.00pm. Please note timings are subject to change and will be confirmed directly to you. On completion of the show, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is a small group tour.

On arrival, please make your way through to the Arrivals Hall where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. This service includes a driver and local English speaking guide, who will provide you with any useful information needed for your stay. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it. Should you not be able to locate them, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details of our representative office.

Known as ''Salta la Linda'' (Salta the Pretty), Salta is a provincial capital in the mountainous north western part of Argentina. Founded in 1582, it is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and cobblestone streets as well as its Andean heritage. The centre of the city is the Plaza 9 de Julio, an elegant square bordered by the cathedral and El Cabildo, an 18th century town hall that is now a historical museum.

This morning we leave Salta, heading out towards the Tastil Ruins and up high into the Andes following the tracks of the world famous train to the clouds to arrive at San Antonio de los Cobres. After stopping for lunch and a short visit to the town, we continue our trip along Route 40 crossing one of the most starkly beautiful areas of Argentina. Having reached the province of Jujuy, we arrive at Salinas Grandes (The Great Salt Flat), where your mind will boggle at the sheer immensity of the area. From here we head down Lipán Cliff to reach the quintessential village of Purmamarca where we overnight.

Purmamarca is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Quebrada de Purmamarca, a narrow mountain valley bordered by the Altiplano to the west and north and by Andean hills to the east. The picturesque village, with its ochre adobe houses, carob-like algarrobo trees and 17th century church, sits under Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of the Seven Colours), a strikingly coloured jagged formation.

We drive north along the “Quebrada de Humahuaca” a narrow canyon with majestic scenery of extraordinary rock formations and ancient indigenous villages. The valley begins around Purmamarca and winds its way north all the way to the border with Bolivia. For centuries used as part of a major trade route between the two countries from prehistoric hunter-gatherers to traders and officials of the Inca Empire, to modern-day tourists. The Quebrada de Humahuaca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its traditions, music, art and religious beliefs that have existed in the canyon for over 10,000 years and still
thrive today throughout the region’s villages.

Our destination is Humahuaca, a quaint and quiet town with cobblestone streets, and a huge staircase leading up to a monument. We will stop here for lunch (not included). On the way back to Salta you will stop in Tilcara where you visit the Pucará (ancient ruins) and the Archaeological Museum. There is also the opportunity to stop in Jujuy, before returning to Salta.

On arrival, please make your way through to the Arrivals Hall where our representative will be waiting for you to transfer you to your hotel. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it. Should you not be able to locate them, please refer to the front of your itinerary for emergency contact details of our representative office.

*Please note the Iguazu Tourist Tax will now be charged on check out at all Iguazu hotels. The amount is currently ARS50 (USD3.40) per person per stay. Please note this tax is subject to change without prior notice.

The spectacular Iguazu Falls that straddle the Argentine-Brazil border, are made up of 275 individual waterfalls lining a 2.7km wide horseshoe-shaped gorge. The Falls are located where the Iguazu River cascades over the edge of the Paraná Plateau. The Falls can be viewed from both the Argentinian and the Brazilian sides, the Brazilian side offering a broader, panoramic view, with the Argentinian side offering a series of catwalks that allow you to experience the Falls from close range.

Early morning pick up from your hotel for your full day of exploring the Argentine side of the falls. This tour always starts early in order to beat the crowds and get the first train to the Devil’s Throat. There are walkways over the islands which take you to a balcony over the falls and the most spectacular view of the entire Devil’s Gorge. You will then have plenty of time to walk the 800 metres of paths on the upper circuit. These new suspended walkways are detached from the jungle surface so as to protect the fauna by preventing disruption of the natural trails. From this circuit you have a higher sight of the falls, providing you with a magnificent panoramic view. It takes around one hour to cover the upper circuit. The lower circuit contains 600 metres of walkways, also detached from the jungle floor, and has great views from below and around the falls. Once you have finished all the circuits, return to the visitor centre where your vehicles will be waiting to transfer you back to your hotel. Please note there is some degree of difficulty as the path includes many stairs, particularly on the lower circuit. National Park fee is included. On completion of the tour, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is small group tour.

You will be collected from your hotel for your tour of the Brazilian side of the falls. After arriving at the visitor centre, we board buses for a tour of the park. Equipped with panoramic windows, the buses are designed to maximize your views of the falls, while the walkways and steps allow you to get up close to the spray. Views of the Floriana Falls, the Devil’s Gorge Canyon and the Iguazu River are spectacular and are guaranteed to impress. National Park fees included. On completion of the tour, you will be taken to your hotel. Please note this is small group tour.

Accommodation

We believe that appropriate accommodation should add to the authentic travel experience, as well as providing utmost enjoyment. For that reason our accommodation is scrutinised by our staff on the ground frequently, ensuring the properties adhere to our high standards. This key will help you understand the levels of accommodation available on this tour.

Standard

Comfortable properties with dependable facilities and service.

Superior

Upmarket properties with above average facilities and service.

Deluxe

Luxurious properties with impeccable facilities and service.

SPEAK TO A SPECIALIST

Talk to one of our Destination Specialists to plan your South American adventure and turn your dream into a reality. With exceptional knowledge and first hand experience, our consultants will assist in every way possible to make your journey the most memorable it can be, matching not only the itinerary, but the accommodation and activities to suit your style of travel and budget.

E: rachel@chimuadventures.co…

Sustainability

Chimu Adventures undertakes a number of sustainability measures within its operations including:1) Only using local guides and office staff to both maximise local employment opportunities and minimise carbon footprints. Local guides also ensure you benefit from the intimate knowledge, passion and culture of the country you’re visiting.2) Where possible, using locally owned and operated boutique hotels to maximise the return to the local community.3) Chimu’s “Pass it on” programme has provided funding to hundreds of local community projects in Latin America. Our aim is to empower local communities, helping them to develop their own infrastructure for the future. Since 2006, we have been working with Kiva (a well-known Non-Governmental Organisation), providing hundreds of loans to local businesses all over South America. 4) In our pre tour information we provide a range of tips and advice on how to minimise your impact on both local environments and communities.5) Chimu Adventures’ offices also take a number of sustainability measures including carbon offsets for company vehicles and most staff travel. Chimu Adventure’s internal processes are also structures to create a paperless office and to reduce waste. There are also internal programmes to help staff minimise their carbon footprint such as our staff bike purchase assistance plan which encourages office staff to commute to work via bicycle. Currently almost half of our office based staff commute to work via bicycle.